You’re treading on a tiger’s back, reps warn MTN

Johnson Agbonayinma, a member of the telecommunications committee of the house of representatives, says MTN “is treading on a tiger’s back”.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the refusal of Ferdinand Moolman, MTN’s chief executive officer (pictured), to honour the summons of the committee, he said Nigeria’s interest in attracting investors should not encourage disregard for the law.

He said the house had mandated the committee to look into the N1.04 trillion settlement negotiations between the telco and the federal government.

“MTN is treading on a tiger’s back; we are here to represent our constituencies and we are talking about people’s lives, this is no joke,” he said.

Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, chairman of the committee, said rather than cooperate with the committee, MTN sent a letter referring it to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the information it was seeking.

The lawmakers ordered Austin Iyasere, who represented Moolman, out of the sitting, quoting section 87 and 88 of the standing orders of the house to prove that parliament could summon anyone to demand for information.

Akinade-Fijabi said Moolman’s absence was deliberate. He therefore summoned the CEO to appear before the committee at a later date.